Late Night Rock

It's all going to be ok.

Just sitting here rocking my sleeping beauty. I've got everything I need. I still don't know God's plan for whats next for us, but I do know that it will be better than anything we can dream. I heard this today: "if you think you can dream big...just imagine how much bigger God can dream."

Good stuff. I'm still determined, but have found a moment of peace.

Peace

Amazing words from Dan Miller

This is sort of a follow up to yesterday's post.  This was sent to me last night.  It is from Dan Miller, an author and career counselor.  Give it a quick read....very very good insight.

But that's not Godly

This addresses the most pervasive and recurring question I receive daily – How can I trust my dreams and passions?  Tom, a sharp 27-yr-old presented himself in my office, wanting confirmation that he was on the right track. He had recently graduated from college (having taken the 7-year plan) and had taken a position with a company selling office equipment. Each morning he put on his suit and began making his calls. The company loved him, however, he was bored beyond belief. I asked him why he had taken this route and his reply relayed a common perception. Tom said that he had a great time in college; he traveled, went snowboarding, attended ball games, and spent time with his friends. Now that he had graduated he felt it was time to “grow up” and become part of the “real world.” He assumed that meant getting a job that he hated but that would prove his responsibility. I laughed and asked who had sold him that bill of goods. We looked carefully at his skills, personality traits, values, dreams and passions. Today, Tom is co-owner of a snowboard shop in Breckenridge, Colorado. On a moonlight night you might catch him coming down a hill at 3:00 AM, testing one of his new designs. What is it that you find naturally enjoyable? If money were not important, what would you spend your time doing? When do you find the time just flying by? What are those recurring themes that keep coming up in your thinking? What did you enjoy as a child but perhaps have been told was unrealistic or impractical to focus on as a career? This is a tough area for most people. There is a subtle spiritual myth that following our dreams is likely to be selfish, egotistical, and something God would frown on. That kind of thinking implies that God is totally outside of ourselves; we are simply physical robots separated from His mind and heart. However, we are created in God’s image and as such are co-creators with Him. Why would God have created us to think imaginatively and to have vivid dreams only to then squelch those dreams for practicality? Consider the possibility that your dreams and desires are the voice of your soul, God’s voice within you, longing for expression through your faith and action. And as you move toward your values, dreams, and passions, you will move toward being more spiritual and more fully what God created you to be.

This is gonna be a long one....

It is 11:22 am on Monday....

I'm sitting in my daughters room, in "our" chair....rocking....praying...listening...writing.

Soundtrack: "Broken" - Lifehouse ... (it is on continuous repeat as I write this) I urge you to listen to it at the link below and listen through the perspective of someone crying out to God, listen for the hope.  LINK: Lifehouse - Broken

I've had a number of conversations in the past few days in relation to "God's will" and it has boiled over and finally reached this page. I feel again that I am at a crossroads.  What happens when you are at a place of yearning for something, but you are just not sure of what's next?

If am being completely honest, and this will sound strange to some people, I know that I am here for big things.  I feel like God has put me on this earth to accomplish something huge.  It is like a burning...deep inside me.  Some people were created to function in an everyday career.  There are people who thrive on spreadsheets, powerpoint presentations, sales meetings and HR policy. There are people who were created to save lives through medicine.  There are people who were created to build things. People who were created to empower others through education.  We have all been made with a purpose.  I feel like I am here to do something huge.

What is my calling?  This seems to be the foundational question that I am seeking to answer.  I know that one of the major pieces of the puzzle is this: Matthew 22:37-39.  "Love God...with everything, and love people."  If we subscribe to following Jesus, this is our calling.  We who have chosen to walk in Christ's footsteps are all called to this mission.  It is not negotiable.  What gets lost in the debate is how to make this practical...the second part in particular.  People often refer to "God's calling" on their life as if it were next step in the instruction manual of life.  They are looking for a prescribed list of steps to take while on this journey.  We come to a place where we feel like we've reached the end of one step and are looking for what to do next...I am beginning to think that this methodology is way off.

What if.....what if we are called simply to love God and love people wherever we are, in whatever we choose to do, whatever career we choose, wherever we choose to live?  Does this change our decision making process?

When it comes to career moves, specifically, I think the world forces us to rely to heavily on "the next step"...and forces us to become fearful of making the wrong decision that we can become paralyzed and terrified.  I fully believe that God has an infinite plan for each of us, and there is not a decision that we can make that makes God stop and say "Crap....he wasn't supposed to do that...now I have to rework this whole thing."  How much further would the world be messed up if God's perfect will was influenced by our actions? It would be chaotic.  When two people are competing for the same job, and both are praying fervently for God to give them the job...is God confused?  Does he have to choose between the two candidates?  I think not.  That would be chaotic.  God has a plan, and we cannot change it.  His plan is simple. He is going to fulfill His promises.  His plan is to give us a future and a hope.  His desire is to see us flourish and prosper, only, His definition of prosper is often not the same as I imagine...it is often more elaborate and beautiful than anything I can imagine.

So what to do as I sit here pondering about what I want to do with my life and how does that line up with my ability to love Him and love the people in my path?  There are things that I do that bring me joy.  We all have talents and abilities that are God given.  It is not a coincidence that music brings me joy. Or that serving people makes me feel complete.  Or that I have a passion for cooking.  Or that discussing business and marketing strategy makes me feel alive.  These are God given skills and tools that He has given me, and they are not to be wasted.

I feel that I have to come to a place where I know what I love to do.  God is calling me to use what I love and to turn that into a way to love Him and to love others.

I don't know what tomorrow will bring, or where I'll be in six months, but I do know this:  I will not settle to be a slave to a job for the rest of my life.  I will not work for a paycheck, or for the weekend.  I see those people everyday, and it is depressing.  We live in the greatest country in the world, where opportunity to create something is infinite.  I will continue to seek God's leading.  I will stand ready to walk through the doors He will open.  I will find a way to make a difference.  I urge you all to do the same.

Peace

Update...getting back to business

Ok...I know I said daily/weekly updates on the nutrisystem thing....here's the weekly update

So far, so good.  It is day 11 of the nutrisystem plan.  I have been traveling so it hasn't been strictly nutrisystem food so far, but for the most part I've been on the plan.  So far, I've lost 5 lbs.  Thats a pretty good start.  Next month's food will be way better because I will only order the things that I've enjoyed.  Maybe one of the good unexpected benefits of the plan has been the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables I'm eating now.  When you eat better and exercise more, you feel better about the person in the mirror, weight loss or no weight loss.  The daily calorie intake is pretty consistently between 1200-1500 calories each day, and I have yet to be "starving".

Baby's crying....gotta run.

Peace

Nutrisystem Journal Entry: January 8th

So far so good.....

Today's Menu: Chocolate Chip Breakfast Bar, Leftover pasta from Olive Garden for Lunch, Thin Mint Chocolate chip bar (snack), BBQ Pork wrap, salad, asparagus, apple slices, wheat roll (dinner), peanut butter cookie (dessert).

Calories: 1330
Exercise: Treadmill, 30 min
Weight: 254 lbs

Thoughts: Overall, a good start.  The food ranges from a grade of A to D+....depends on the dish.  I'll be re-ordering only B items and above.  Hopefully I can keep this up for 3 months.  I have been only slightly hungry so far.....

Nutrisystem Kickoff

Happy New Year!

So yesterday Emily and I embarked on our nutrisystem journey.  I intend on posting daily/weekly updates of my progress.  The goal is simple enough...lose 30 lbs.  right?  We'll see.....

Start Date:  January 8th
Starting weight: 254 lbs

Here we go!